The road code in Australia

Road rules in Australia

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During my 15-month stay, I visited all states except the Canberra territory, covering a bit more than 15,000 km whether by car, 4×4, or van. I also had to travel a few thousand kilometers by bus. I went through muddy roads, sandy tracks, and quite varied terrains, etc. If you want more details about transport in Australia, click here.

In this article, I will talk more specifically about the road system in Australia.

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What you need to know about the road rules in Australia

Driving is a bit different than in France because in Australia, they drive on the left like in Anglo-Saxon countries; at first, it’s a bit strange but you get used to it after a while. The 2012 French road code is not so different from the 2012 Australian road code. It is recommended to have an international driving permit to drive in Australia.

Most cars have automatic transmissions, so gear changes happen automatically. Driving in Australia is rather easy and not stressful when you leave the big cities, but it is often long.

If you want information about road rules in other countries, it’s here (source Wikipedia: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_de_la_route

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The different road signs in Australia

Australia has its own particularities since there are some quite original road signs.

I will give you my little selection of original signs:

First of all the classic: the kangaroo warning sign.

Another one a bit more original: it is a speed bump turned into a snail and a cassowary, a kind of Australian ostrich.

Speed limit	Zone
50 km/h	Urban area
60-80 km/h	Suburban road
100 km/h	National road
110 km/h	Highway
130 km/h	Northern Territory (only)

If you are wondering what animal this is, you won’t find it because it is a wombat, a super big rat the size larger than a doberman.

A big classic but much less common than the Kangaroo one: the Koala.

Here is an animal that looks a bit like a hedgehog but is called an echidna, it really pricks a lot :D.

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Of course, there are other road signs but I only included those that caught my attention.

Along the same lines, the article on central Australia provides useful insight. Our feedback on living in Australia also offers good tips, and the guide dedicated to food, drinks, and completes the picture well.

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Note that you can buy T-shirts with Australian road signs as logos for holiday souvenirs from Australia. And you? Have you ever seen any signs that stood out or were quite unusual?

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If you want more information about Australia, it’s here: http://www.conseil-voyageur.fr/voyage/australie